Environmental Resources Management

Letter of Interpretation

Before submitting your plans, send them to Environmental Resources Management for a quick review and a letter of interpretation showing whether it complies with environmental regulations. Use this informative tool to save your time and money before buying or leasing property.

• Read the Letter of Interpretation instructions 

Certificates of Occupancy

The Certificate of Occupancy used to be a part of the Certificate of Use and Occupancy. When the new Florida Building Code went into effect, it required Building Officials to issue a Certificate of Occupancy – when a structure or building (i.e. a house, an office building, a warehouse, etc.) was fit for occupancy. Whenever a person gets a building permit for new construction or improvement to an existing building, he/she will be required to obtain a Certificate of Occupancy from the Building Department upon completion of any construction work.

In the unincorporated areas of Miami-Dade County, prior to the Building Department issuing the Certificate of Occupancy, the applicant also must comply with the requirements of all other departments (i.e. Fire Rescue, Zoning, Public Works, etc.). In order for Environmental Resources Management to allow the issuance of the Certificate of Occupancy, the applicant - must submit a number of different Certifications depending on the project. These are a few, but not limited to, the certifications Environmental Resources Management requires: Final Elevation Certificate, Engineer's certification of treatment systems, Engineer's certification of hazardous materials storage systems, Certification of Water Main Extensions Sanitary Sewer Main Extensions, etc.

Certificates of Use

This is the second portion of what once was the Certificate of Use and Occupancy. This is also referred to as a Zoning Permit. It is an approval of a specific use at a specific location. It is required in the unincorporated areas of Miami-Dade County for all non-residential uses (i.e. any business in unincorporated Miami-Dade County requires a Certificate of Use). In order to open a business, you must apply for a Certificate of Use. It also applies to changes or transfers of ownership of a business. Prior to the issuance of a Certificate of Use, the applicant must obtain Environmental Resources Management's approval. In order for Environmental Resources Management to approve a Certificate of Use, the applicant must comply with Environmental Resources Management's Land Use Regulations (i.e. Wellfield Protection Areas, Uses Served by Septic Tanks, etc.), obtain the appropriate Sewer Capacity Certification (aka Sewer Allocation), and obtain any required Environmental Resources Management Operating Permits (i.e. Industrial Waste, Air Source, Storage Tank, Grease Discharge, etc.). If you have any questions concerning the Certificates of Use or Zoning Permit, please contact the Department of Planning & Zoning.

Municipality Occupational Licenses

The Municipality Occupational License is the equivalent of the Certificate of Use in the unincorporated areas. Each municipality will issue its own type of Zoning Permit, and as with the Certificate of Use, the applicant must obtain Environmental Resources Management's approval prior to the municipality issuing the License. In order for Environmental Resources Management to issue its approval, the applicant must comply with Environmental Resources Management's Land Use Regulations (i.e. Wellfield Protection Areas, Uses Served by Septic Tanks, etc), obtain the appropriate Sewer Capacity Certification (aka Sewer Allocation), and obtain any required Environmental Resources Management Operating Permits (i.e. Industrial Waste, Air Source, Storage Tank, Grease Discharge, etc.)

Local Business Tax

Any person doing business in Miami-Dade County, either unincorporated or within a municipality, needs to obtain a Miami-Dade County Local Business Tax receipt. Unlike the Certificate of Use, the Local Business Tax Receipt is not an approval for a specific location. The Local Business Tax Receipt is a tax imposed for doing business within Miami-Dade County. Environmental Resources Management does not review or approve Miami-Dade County Local Business Tax Receipts.